True Life: I went to Mountain Bike Camp and didn't die

As I flew off the bridge, I thought, "Now what have I gotten myself into?"A few months before my editor had sent out an email asking if anyone wanted to take part in Mountain Bike Camp otherwise known as the Trek Dirt Series up at Whistler. I was feeling a

Travel Planning Reinvented

Looking to plan the trip of a lifetime in an environment that sets the tone for your escape? Welcome to the future of travel planning with AAA. With a newly transformed store in Seattle, this is not your Dad's AAA.The new Cruise & Travel store is located a

5 ways to unwind on the Tillamook Coast

Oh, September. That month when summer officially ends and we're reminded just how busy we are. Between back to school, back to sports, work meetings, PTA meetings, cooking dinner, getting everyone out the door, even getting yourself out the door, it's no w

Yeehaw! Win a trip to the 2016 CMA Awards

50 has never looked so good! The Country Music Awards are turning the big 5-0 this year, and we are celebrating with a free trip to Nashville to see the show! You may remember we were able to head down to Music City last year for the awards - and it was a

Chelan Spotlight: Campbell's Resort

All the reasons fall is the best time to visit the San Juans

The San Juan Islands are a popular northwest getaway, for a good reason. They're close enough to Seattle that you don't have to spend all day traveling, but far enough away from city life that traffic and work seem like distant memories.Summer is always a

What a summer away from Seattle taught me

It's never been a mistake when I leave Seattle. That said, it's also never been a mistake when I've come back.After growing up just south of the city, moving away for undergrad seemed like the only prudent thing to do. I was desperate to live somewhere els

Leavenworth is beautiful and TripAdvisor agrees

WIR LIEBEN LEAVENWORTH. That means we love Leavenworth in German. See what I did there? Yes, we love Leavenworth and so does TripAdvisor.Trip Advisor compiled a list of the 24 Beautiful Little Mountain Towns Across America and Leavenworth, WA came in at th

These are the weirdest town names in Washington

Okay, when I first started reading this blog post from Estately, I was pretty sure that it was a spoof. Someone please tell me that this IS NOT REAL... Actually, I just changed my mind, someone please tell me this IS real because this is amazing.Estately s

Chelan Spotlight: Siren Song Wines

One Tank Trips: Alderbrook Resort and Spa

Sadly, the summer is coming to an end. But, you still have time for at least one more one-tank trip! For our last road trip, we're hitting the road in our Honda Civic and heading to Hood Canal.With the One Tank Trips sweepstakes from your Western Washingto

One Tank Trips: Get away from it all

When you hear "The mountain is out," it means the weather is fabulous in Seattle. We think you should take advantage of the sunshine and go check out "the mountain", aka Mt. Rainier, this summer.Welcome to the third edition of our one-tank trip series, tra

29 pics that will have you booking a trip to a National Park

This is the most beautiful place in Washington

Washington State isn't exactly hurting for breathtaking vistas: on the west coast, white waves wash up on endless beaches; in the east, an agricultural utopia rolls with hills and hay as far as the eye can see. In between, the Olympic and Cascade mountain

Winery Spotlight: Keeping standards high

Watch: All Chelan, all the time

We had a blast at Lake Chelan! Here are some behind the scenes from our trip up there, which you can see in our full episode above. (Image: Joshua Lewis / Seattle Refined)

9 reasons to visit Grand County, CO

One Tank, One Car, One Prize

There's still some summer left, and we're thinking a road trip is the perfect way to end the month of August.We're continuing our one-tank trip series, traveling to the most picturesque one-tank destinations and give you an opportunity to win exciting priz

Winery Spotlight: Celebrating Washington every day

Channel your inner cowboy with a trip to a dude ranch

Be honest: have you ever worn a cowboy hat?We're guessing 95% of you answered yes.We're also guessing many of you felt a bit like a fraud, knowing you were donning the headwear of John Wayne, Billy the Kid and Doc Holliday, without ever having ridden a hor

Winery Spotlight: Make it Sparkle

Making Manzanita Memories

Years ago, I had a co-worker who would rave and rave about Manzanita. She talked about this mythical place on the Oregon Coast that had a quiet beach, a small town full of dog-lovers and delicious restaurants. Her family would spend two weeks every August

Your next weekend trip should be to the Thurston County Bountiful Byway

Outside of Olympia, lays 68,000 acres of beautiful farmland in Thurston County. Most visitors to Thurston County bypass most of this abundant area by flying past on I-5. The Thurston County Bountiful Byway will surely lure visitors and locals off the Inter

Winery Spotlight: One vineyard, 23 years

You don't know Juneau like this

A PNW summer isn't complete without a trip to the OR coast

Every year, my family packs up our Subaru Outback (we're nothing if quintessential Seattleites) and head to the Oregon Coast. Even though we've headed south for a week of beach-y goodness for the past six years, we have yet to discover everything that the

Winery Spotlight: WA has deserts, and we make wine in them

Win big with Honda One Tank Trips

Summer's here, and it's the perfect time to take a road trip through our beautiful state.Over the next few weeks, we'll travel to the most picturesque one-tank destinations and give you an opportunity to win exciting prizes!With the One Tank Trips sweepsta

17 Things to do in Alaska that don't include dog sleds

You'll never use the word "boring" to describe a trip to Juneau, Alaska.We know that.But beyond the flightseeing trips and dogsledding adventures, there is plenty to do, see, and eat in the Juneau area. So much in fact, we decided to make it easy for you a

Winery Spotlight: 70 years of farming experience makes a difference

Where to Glamp in WA: In Tiny Homes

Remember our Glamping Series last month? We just found another and needed to make a last minute addition....glamping in a Tiny Home!Tiny homes are all the rage now and here's you chance to spend a night in a Tiny Home at Alexandria Nicole Cellars in the Ya

Photos: 'The Nest' is the highest rooftop bar in Seattle

Photos: This 'Space Needle Suite' will give you the sweetest dreams

Skiing, mountains - and a Nordic Day Spa? The Whistler spot you may not have heard of

Here is one of the many things I love about the Pacific Northwest (and I'm totally counting part of Canada in this too) - you literally can never know everything that is going on. Sometimes people ask me if I get worried I'll run out of content for Seattle

Take a vacation without the guilt

Does anyone else sometimes see vacation as a long cheat day? I usually look forward to skipping my workouts, and eating whatever looks best on the in-room dining menu.This is kind of what I was expecting when I went up to Whistler a couple weeks ago with m

5 travel writers explain why Seattle is the best place to live

For travel writers, every week or month brings a new place: the biggest, best, and most beautiful in the world. While their job requires being on the road much of the time, they still have to live somewhere and a surprisingly high number choose Seattle. Th

A trip to this place should be on your summer bucket list

Is it possible to be in a bad mood at a place called Pleasant Beach?We didn't think so. Especially once you hear all the fun stuff there is to do there.Hop on the Bainbridge ferry from downtown Seattle and in about half an hour, you'll be out of the city a

Is it a work trip if you're having the time of your life?

Where to Glamp in WA: Orcas Island

**We have some summer plans for you! As this is the first week of summer, we are starting the season right with coverage of "Glamping" aka Glamourous Camping, in a series I like to call, "We gone Glampin'! Because Washington is home to so many fantastic gl

Why you should hold your next meeting in Alaska

Does your annual company meeting need inspiration? Quarterly reporting need some pizazz? Are you sick of sitting in the same hotel conference center, year after year, while you struggle to get your employees excited about your mission?You need to plan your

Photos: Brand new hotel opens in downtown Seattle

9 Awesome Road Trips Under 4 Hours Away

Vacation. We all need one every once and a while. And to be frank with you, I think the most underrated form of vacationing is road trippin'. Cue everyone's favorite 90's movie catchphrase: ROADTRIP!Lucky for us, being in Seattle means that we are so close

The Chelan You Didn't Know About

In the dog days of summer, when the city is melting and Seattle's lack of air-conditioning is painfully apparent, lots of us contemplate making the trip through the Cascades to enjoy the crystal clear waters of Lake Chelan.But there's another Chelan - a dr

The coolest trip you'll ever take

Quick: What's the capital of Alaska?Answer: The same place you should be planning your next epic vacation. (The actual answer is Juneau, if you haven't looked it up yet.)Besides being home to some of the greatest scenery out country has to offer, Juneau is

Need a Healthy Excuse to Travel? Here are 9 Summer Destination Races

There are a batch of people out there who vacation around runs, marathons and triathlons. We don't understand them and their healthiness, but apparently it's a thing. This post is for those people - a bunch of fun runs happening around the state this summe

Bringing Seattle Abroad: Germany

Our writer Susan Galbraith is also a singer/songwriter! She is touring Europe right now promoting her new album Some Freedom, and blogging for us as she goes. First stop was Amsterdam - next up is Munich!I wish I could say my Germany travels were as smooth

Leavenworth: More than Oktoberfest and Christmas lights

We know Leavenworth is your go-to getaway in the fall when the festivities of Oktoberfest get underway, and in the winter, when the snow is on the ground and the Christmas spirit is in full swing. But your favorite holiday destination also has a fantastic

Photos: 12 breathtaking reasons to visit Juneau, Alaska

Best Mother's Day gift ever?

Here's a little tip: Mother's day is May 8th. Here's another tip: Mom wants a vacation. And your final tip: The Olympic Peninsula is an awesome place to get away to.In addition to mom's special day, the entire spring season is a great time to hop a ferry

24 Hours in San Francisco

This Spring Break we headed south for a few jam-packed days in San Francisco, armed with a long list of recommendations from our Californian friends. If you've got a layover there, or just want to know the best things to do over a long weekend, here are ou

Photos: Life on a 70-foot sailboat

Photos: So many reasons to visit the Olympic Peninsula this spring

6 Exceptional Seattle Hikes for Spring

Spring has sprung and with it comes the desire to take a walk through the woods while exploring a bit of nature. While packing up the backpack and driving a few hours away to really enjoy nature is awesome, sometimes you just have enough time to enjoy a qu

The cutest place on Vashon you never knew about

Vashon Island has always been the perfect island to escape the craziness of city life with its vast outdoor spaces and slower paced lifestyle. The short 20-minute ferry ride from West Seattle quickly delivers you to Vashon along with a nice change of scene

65 countries, 2 years and countless stories

Taylor Anthony first caught the travel bug when he was sixteen, on a school trip to Italy, and that thing must be mighty infectious, because now, aged 21, he has visited over 65 countries. We caught up with Taylor to hear more about his travel experiences,

5 (Edible) reasons to go to Shanghai

For years, the long-running, only-sort-of kidding answer to How do I find great Chinese food in Seattle? was by driving to Vancouver. But after finding ultra-discounted flights direct from Sea-Tac to Shanghai, there is now an even more absurd, but yet tast

Road Trippin' to Kitsap Peninsula

You know what's fun? Vacation. Your Instagram feed is probably packed with people going on fancy trips to sunny locations, but if your vacation time and cash flow aren't so plentiful, fear not: a quick trip to the Kitsap Peninsula will actually give you al

Trendy Travel Gadgets for Your Next Adventure

Whether you have an upcoming trip to the Alps or a sun soaked beach in the tropics, having the right travel essentials is key to every getaway. Ensure you are prepared for your next vacation with:Men's and Women's Travel Vest: When backpacking or trying t

Photos: Early Spring has Skagit tulips blooming now through mid-April

The Secrets of Wenatchee's Pybus Market

In fact, Pybus Market is itself if one great and glorious secret, though one which is becoming increasingly well-known here in Seattle. Opened in Wenatchee in 2013, the market modestly calls itself the 'world's best farmers' market' and although Pike Place

Plan a rainy weekend trip, east of the mountains

When we were in elementary school, it was always a bummer when recess was cancelled due to inclement weather. Growing up in Seattle, this happened pretty often, so Rainy Day Recess became a usual occurrence.Now as adults, it's easy to see rainy weekends a

Washington's best kept ski secret

Did you know there's a ski area within easy reach of Seattle, with twice the terrain of Stevens Pass and far fewer visitors, which makes for shorter lines, ample parking and more opportunity to make the most of this season's glorious pow?Mission Ridge is s

Photos: This 10-acre Boise Foothills home is THE DREAM

New study says these are the worst Seattle suburbs

We all think that living in Seattle is great or at least, hopefully most of us do...but anew study from RoadSnacks.nethas ranked the 10 worst suburbs of our grand city, based on unemployment, media income, population density, home values and high school

4 Reasons to Spend Spring Break on the Tillamook Coast

Winter is winding down and Spring Break is right around the corner. Not sure what to do with the family during an entire week without school? A road trip to the Tillamook Coast in Oregon may be the perfect solution. As most Pacific Northwesterners know, th

New poll shows what U.S. states think of Seattle

A new poll by local real estate company First Exclusive talked with 5,000 people at least 100 in each state, on their feelings about Seattle as a city, the people in Seattle, and the Seahawks.The results are interesting to say the least. Looks like the Pa

Red Carpet: "Once Upon A Time" celebrates 100th episode in Vancouver

Who else knew that ABC's hit series Once Upon a Time filmed in Hollywood of the North, aka Vancouver, B.C.? We packed up our passports and loonies and trekked up to catch the cast and crew's celebration of their 100th episode Souls of the Departed, airing

Daughter's inflight wedding helps make sick mom's wish come true

Something special happened 35,000 feet in the air on Alaska Airlines flight #461 coming from Los Angeles to Sea-Tac on Friday night.Kristy Larsen, an Alaska Airlines flight attendant, had arranged to grant three wishes to her mom Billie Jo Stimmel, who is

Photos: The swankiest RVs at the Seattle RV Show

Packing Tips from Hip Travel Mama

Looking for a quick getaway? Anne Taylor Hartzell, the Hip Travel Mama, shares a few quick ideas for getaways close to home. Plus tips for packing the family for a trip abroad.

Oregon debuts industry's first oceanfront outdoor theater

When traveling, most of us look for rooms with a view so we can watch TV at night and look out onto the oceanwoodsdesertsunset.Pacific Reef Hotel in Gold Beach is skipping the middle man with their new 33-foot wide oceanfront outdoor theater. They complet

Get away to quaint Port Gamble

Washington is packed with great places for a fun afternoon visit and one of our favorites at Seattle Refined is the historic waterfront town of Port Gamble. It's just a short ferry ride from Edmonds and a quick 6 mile drive from Kingston. The tree-lined st

Three Portland hotels - Three different eras

When it comes to choosing a hotel, the vibe is just as important as the price. We checked out three Portland hotels in a similar price bracket that represent three different eras and are all great fun in very different ways.Portland's White HouseIf you've

Seattle's Roosevelt community makes Top 10 Hottest U.S. Neighborhoods list

Its no secret that Seattle is a growing city, and the housing market certainly reflects it. According to a new study by Redfin, the Roosevelt neighborhood is one of the nation's 10Hottest Neighborhoods of 2016.Eking by at #10, Redfin cites the breathtak

Snowy wonderland less than an hour away from Seattle

Chelan makes TripAdvisor's "Affordable Hidden Gems" list

Chelan is usually associated with their infamous lake, water sports and an overall summer vacation vibe. But TripAdvisor is calling attention to another season in Chelan - winter! They recently named Chelan one of their Top 10 Most Affordable Hidden Gem Ge

An Insider's View on the Life of a Hotel Inspector

Have you ever checked into a hotel and seen plaques denoting various ratings and wondered what it would be like to be an inspector? We've asked AAA Inspector 39 to shed some light on some of the more unique experiences entailing the inspector journey.Q. Wh

Discover magic in the Washington Park Arboretum

Nestled along the shores of Lake Washington, the Washington Park Arboretum is a magical place for an afternoon exploration. The 230 acres of lush and diverse greenery along with miles of bike paths, hiking and running trails offer a tranquil and magical re

Five Fabulous Things To Do In Whistler Besides Skiing

Theres no better time than now to head to Whistler. The torrential rain weve been experiencing in Seattle has translated to feet of glorious snow in the West Coast ski resorts, which is super welcome after a poor season all round last year. While we were

Lake Chelan Winterfest

Its the time of year when the Lake Chelan Valley fills with twinkling lights, snow, breathtaking ice sculptures and feeling of festivity that you cant help but get swept up in. Winterfest is a week-long festival of family fun that kicks off on January 15 i

36 hours in Vancouver BC (mostly eating)

Is your New Year's resolution to travel more? Well lucky for us, Vancouver BC is just a few hours north and is full of great stuff to do and eat and the USD exchange rate it killing it.

5 Ways to enjoy the off-season in Long Beach

Going to a resort in winter is like cheering for the underdog. It's surprising and full of heart, but ultimately still needs to win in order to be worth talking about. Three-and-a-half hours south of Seattle, the Long Beach peninsula triumphs in the battle

Holiday Travel Tips from Seattle's Etiquette Expert

Ford Motor Company and Emily Post's 2015 holiday driving tips have teamed up with Arden Clise, a local award winning etiquette expert to bring us tips to make that holiday road trip as pleasant and painless as possible.Clise weighed in on proper driving e

LA and Seattle restaurants swap chefs for a night

Seattle Chef Ethan Stowell lets LA chefs take over his restaurant for one night only.

Photos: Recent rainfall makes for an epic Franklin Falls

Are you looking for an easy hike? Franklin Falls is a quick hour drive from Seattle and a two miles round trip hike. Makes for a great (and quick) outing!

Viva la Ziva! The spectacular rebirth of Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos

Now that winter is truly upon us in the Pacific Northwest, it's time to think about booking a trip to sunnier climes. We adored the all-inclusive and newly refurbished Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos in Mexico and think you will too.

It doesn't get much more "farm to table" than this Seaview restaurant

Just a smidge over three hours west of Seattle lies a restaurant that likes to take full advantage of the finest its coastal status grants it.

Photos: Eating through Nashville

While in Nashville covering the Country Music Association Awards we did our best to eat everything Nashville had to offer.

The Joys of Early Winter Travel

Over a three-day weekend in early December last year, my husband and I snuck away from the hustle and bustle of holiday preparations, family obligations and tight schedules, for some much-needed down time together.

Top tips for a kid-friendly Seattle staycation

This is a great time of year to indulge in a downtown Seattle staycation with your kids.

The men of ABC's "Nashville" perform at CMA Songwriter Series

How could we be in Nashville and not check out one of ABC's greatest shows, based here? We caught up with the Men of Nashville at their CMA Songwriter Series.

Lake Chelan's Wine Trails

The Lake Chelan Valley is a relatively new wine destination, but don't let that fool you. This AVA has a rich tasting experience with many wineries along the shores of breathtaking Lake Chelan.

Tim McGraw plays GMA concert for CMA Awards

Tim McGraw performed a free concert in downtown Nashville for "Good Morning America" on the morning of the CMA Awards.

A lesson in country music at the Hall of Fame & Museum in Nashville

Happy CMA day! Before we head to the awards tonight (airing at 8/7 central on KOMO 4 News), we had to get ourselves an education in country music from the source.

Photos: The chicest penthouse lofts to stay while in Nashville

Check out one of the best ways to visit Nashville with this Penthouse loft in Printer's Alley in Downtown Nashville.

Impromptu Hunter Hayes concert kicks off our #CMAWeek in Nashville

We're in Nashville this week for the Country Music Awards, airing on KOMO 4 News Wednesday November 4.